S. J. Robinson: Missing And Presumed Dead

I miss the days when light stayed long
When comrades' dreams stood bright and strong
I miss the friend that I once had
Companionship through good and bad

When marching was a chance to sing
Of joys of home that memories bring:
Camp-fires, a chance to talk of plans
And haul together all life's strands

I long for smells of Harvest new,
The cleanliness of morning dew,
A Marbles game-we still are young
But winter's here - Our summer's done

Debris of guns and carnage flay
What once was warmth to cloudy day
And now you lie where grasses green
Have given o'er to muddy sheen

I miss the days when life was fair,
When naught but bird call rent the air
But you are gone, and I am sad
I miss the friend that I once had.